PART 1. SERMON V. 73 Or at such a season as this, when we get near to God in prayer, if we think of any of the creatures, it is all in order to the honour of God. If I think of a brother, or father, or child, " O may they all be instruments in thine hand, for thy honour here among men, and for ever among blessed angels !" The soul does not ask for riches and glories on earth for them : but, " May they live in thy sight, OLord !" If it thinks of the com- forts oflife, or the blessings of prosperity, " O let holiness to the Lord be written upon them all ; for I would not have one of them, but what may subserve thine honour in the world." If the soul thinks of its pains, and sorrows,' and reproaches, it longs for the sanctification of them 'at present, and the re- moval of them in due season, that it.may serve its God the better. Thus thesoul is, as'it were, taken outof self, when it gets near to God. " Let mehave the conveniences of life, (says the christian,) not so much for my ease, as that I may better advance thine honour." The soul grows weaned from self at such a time ; it breaks out of the narrow circle of self, whenit gets nigh to God. If it thinks of the ministry or of ordinances, " Lord, let that ministry be for the advancement of thyname ! Lord, let these ordinances be for the increase of thy glory in the world, for the advancement of grace in my heart, and bringme nearer to hea- ven ! If it thinks ofthe kingdom, or the parliament, powers or princes in this world, it is with this design, that God may be glorified in the courts of princes, and in parliaments, and honoured in armies and nátioos known and unknown." Thus the soul always keeps within sight of God : it still keeps all its designs within thecircle of God, and aims still at the glories of its HeavenlyFather. If it thinksof life or of death, " I would not ask life, says the saint, but to glorify thee ; nor death; but to glorify thee better, and to enjoy more of thee." Thus when the soul is near to God, it is in a divine light that it sees all things, it is still with a design for God; and when it indulges the thoughts toward any creature, it is without turning aside a mo- ment from its God. Thus carnalthings are taken into the mind, and spritualizedby the presenceof God, the infinite Spirit, when the soul approaches so near to his seat. VI. There will then be a fixedness of heart in duty without wandering, and liveliness without tiring. At other times of common and usual worship, when the saint is in too formal and in too cold a frame, the heart roves perpetually, and is soon weary ; but when we get near to God, then we have a little em- blem ofheaven within us, where they worship God day and night without interruption, and without weariness. When we wait 'upon God at this rate, we are still mounting up higher and
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